File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 86.
Photo: File Photo

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk. Irwin, a democrat,...

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, date March 12th, 1968. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 89.
Photo: File Photo

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, date March 12th, 1968....

A 1959 file photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 89.
Photo: File Photo

A 1959 file photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk. Irwin, a...

A 1966 file photo shows Congressman Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, with President Lyndon B. Johnson. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 86.
Photo: File Photo

A 1966 file photo shows Congressman Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk,...

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, with his family Nov. 8th, 1966. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 86.
Photo: File Photo

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, with his family Nov....

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, dated July 27th, 1959. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 86.
Photo: File Photo

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, dated July 27th, 1959....

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, and his family, date unkown. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 86.
Photo: File Photo

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, and his family, date...

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, and his family July 17th, 1968. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 86.
Photo: File Photo

File photo of Donald J. Irwin, of Norwalk, and his family July...

File photo dated Oct. 20th, 1966 shows Congressman Donald J. Irwin, right, of Norwalk, with Senator Ted Kennedy, center, and Bridgeport Mayor Hugh Curran, left. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 86.
Photo: File Photo

File photo dated Oct. 20th, 1966 shows Congressman Donald J. Irwin, center, of Norwalk, with Senator Ted Kennedy and others. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 86.
Photo: File Photo

File photo dated Oct. 20th, 1966 shows, from left, Connecticut Gov. John Dempsey, Senator Ted Kennedy, Congressman Donald Irwin, of Norwalk, and Bridgeport Mayor Hugh Curran. Irwin, a democrat, served three terms in the U.S. House of Representative between 1959 and 1969, and two terms as Mayor of Norwalk from 1971-1975. Irwin died July 7th, 2013. He was 86.
Photo: File Photo

More Information

NORWALK -- Donald J. Irwin, a Norwalk Democrat who served three terms in Congress, two years as state treasurer and four years as mayor of his hometown, has died. He was 86.

Irwin died from heart problems Sunday while in hospice care at his Norwalk home, his wife, Janet, said Tuesday.

He held the 4th Congressional District seat representing southwestern Connecticut for three terms, from 1959 to 1961 and from 1965 to 1969.

A year after losing his 1960 re-election bid to Republican Abner Sibal, Irwin was appointed state treasurer by Gov. John Dempsey to finish the term of John Speziale, who left office to become a judge. Irwin won back the congressional seat in 1964 by beating Sibal and was re-elected in 1966.

He lost the 1968 election for the House seat to Republican Lowell P. Weicker Jr., the future U.S. senator and Connecticut governor. Irwin returned to his law career after the defeat and went on to serve two terms as Norwalk mayor from 1971 to 1975.

"Connecticut lost a faithful public servant and a man known for his integrity and dedication to his state and country," U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said in a statement.

"Donald's passing strikes a chord with me, as not only did he represent the district I am now honored to serve, but we also have similar backgrounds -- both born to American parents in Latin America and both serving in our adopted hometowns in Connecticut before running for Congress. Donald's commitment to public service took him from the Norwalk Board of Education to Congress and as far as Rio de Janeiro, where he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. My heart goes out to his family and the community as they mourn this loss."